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Testing the predictive power of the transtheoretical model of behavior change applied to dietary fat intake
The generalizability of the Transtheoretical Model Of behavior change
This study evaluated the generalizability of the Transtheoretical Model (TTM) from smoking cessation to dietary fat reduction. Utilizing longitudinal data from a randomized control trial involving 1207 adults recruited from primary care practices, the researchers assessed the predictive power of the TTM constructs—temptation, pros and cons, and ten processes of change—during transitions between the stages of change. Predictive assessments were made for three stages: Precontemplation (PC), Contemplation (C), and Preparation (PR), based on stage transitions categorized as no progress, progress, and regression over a 12-month period. Univariate analysis of variance was employed to compute effect sizes, specifically omega squared (ω²). The study found a high degree of confirmation in predictions based on dietary data, with confirmation rates of 92% for PC, 95% for C, and 92% for PR. In contrast, predictions derived from smoking data yielded lower confirmation rates of 77%, 79%, and 85%, indicating a moderate degree of generalizability. These findings suggest that while the TTM constructs are robust in predicting dietary behavior changes, the model’s applicability to dietary fat consumption may require further refinement. The study also provides revised effect size estimates for future research on the TTM as it pertains to dietary fat reduction. [NPID: Transtheoretical Model, behavior change, stages of change, TTM, constructs]
Year: 2009
